Method and system of help-information control method and system

ABSTRACT

A method of help-information control for displaying help information on a display unit of an information processing system executing a plurality of application programs. A status management table for storing the executing status of application programs is provided as common to these programs. During execution of a given application program, the contents of the status information table are updated successively in accordance with the executing status. Whenever an operator makes a help request, the contents of the status management table in effect at that point in time are referenced. The table is searched for the help information corresponding to the request. When found and retrieved, the information is displayed. The search is performed using a program identifier, a message identifier, and a help message searching table that includes the position information containing the corresponding help data. Each application program is equipped with a control data part that makes it possible to reference help data of other application programs.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 398,513,filed on Aug. 25, 1989 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and a system having a helpfacility for use in processing information and, more particularly, to amethod and a system adapted to control help information in implementingthe help facility for use with integrated software comprising aplurality of application programs.

A majority of today's information processing systems are equipped withwhat is known as a help facility. Using that facility, an operator ofsuch a system, when at a loss as to how to handle it, may be givenpertinent instructions for proceeding with the ongoing process.

An example of conventional help facilities for use with informationprocessing systems is found in Laid-open Patent No. 62-179016. In thisexample, when an operator is not sure how to operate the informationprocessing system he is using, he may hit a specific key on the keyboardattached. The keystroke causes a display unit of the system to indicatewhat is called help information, i.e., a body of information about thecorrect operating procedures corresponding to the immediately precedingmessage that was output by the ongoing program of the system.

The above-described example also includes means for providing integratedsoftware comprising at least two application programs with anindependent help facility corresponding to each of these programs.

The conventional technology referred to above involves the followingproblem. The help information available to the operator at a given pointin time is only that corresponding to the immediately preceding message.That is, if a help request is made at a certain point in time, it isimpossible to provide help information reflecting more detailed statusof the application programs involved.

The fact that integrated software comprised of at least two applicationprograms has help facilities for each of the application programsinevitably complicates the functions of these programs. Furthermore, themeans for implementing such help facilities overlap in varying degreesbetween application programs. This results in a bloated size of theintegrated software as a whole.

In addition, an independent help facility for each of the applicationprograms constituting integrated software makes it impossible toreference help information keyed to any application program other thanthe currently executing one.

It is thus apparent that the problem with conventional methods forimplementing help facility for application programs is threefold: (1)these methods tend to complicate the mechanism of the help facility; (2)the total size of integrated software must be increased; and (3) it isimpossible to reference help information across different applicationprograms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a system ofhelp-information control whereby each of the application programsforming integrated software has its current status stored so thatpertinent help information reflecting that status is given in responseto a help request from an operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and a systemof help-information control whereby integrated software comprisingmultiple application programs has its help facility simplified so thatany increase in the total size of the software resulting From additionof such facility is minimized, with the help information thatcorresponds to an application program other than the currently executingone being referenced whenever the help facility is activated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and a systemof help-information control whereby the help facility, in displaying ahelp screen always in the foreground active window of a multi-windowsystem, is implemented so that the processing overhead on applicationprograms is minimized, with the contents of help messages for displaybeing readily modified in accordance with any changes in or additions toapplication program functions.

In order to accomplish the objects described above, the presentinvention envisages, among others, provision of a status managementtable in memory. During execution of a given application program, thistable has its contents successively updated to reflect the executingstatus. When an operator makes a help request at a given point in time,the current contents of the status management table are referenced. Thenthe help information corresponding to the contents of the statusmanagement table are searched for and output accordingly.

The method of help-information control according to the presentinvention has a system program that provides unified control over helpinformation on multiple application programs. While an applicationprogram is executing, the other application programs notify the systemprogram of their executing status. When the operator makes a helprequest, the system program interrupts the execution of the currentapplication program to activate a help program. The help programreferences the executing status retained by the system program in orderto look for pertinent help data and output relevant help information.

The method of help-information control according to the presentinvention makes it possible to include the help information on at leastone application program into the help information on another applicationprogram that is output to reflect its executing status at a given pointin time.

The status management table according to the present invention storespairs of a program identifier and a message identifier, the two beingrelated to each other. The program identifier identifies eachapplication program. The message identifier, also known as a statuscode, indicates the executing status of each application program.

According to the present invention, there is also provided ahelp-information searching table for searching for relevant helpinformation. This table stores a program identifier corresponding toeach application program. Also stored in the table is a messageidentifier indicating the executing status of each application program.In addition, the table contains a storing position of help message datacorresponding to the message identifier above. The two kinds ofidentifier and each storing position are appropriately related to oneanother when stored.

Help data, or help message data are divided into a display data part anda control data part in memory. The display data part stores data fordisplaying help information on a display unit. The control data partstores three items: (1) the on-screen position where given display datais displayed on the display unit; (2) a program identifier forspecifying the help data or help message data required by the displaydata; and (3) a message identifier as a status code. The three items arerelated to one another in storage. The program identifier in the controldata part may point to the application program that has called thecurrent display data; the program identifier may also point to anotherapplication program. This makes it possible to interchange help data foruse between multiple application programs.

According to the present invention, there are also provided a help datamanagement table and a help message searching table. The help datamanagement table contains a program identifier that identifies eachapplication program and a storing position where the help data for eachapplication program is stored. The program identifier and the storingposition are related to each other wheel stored. The help messagesearching table contains a message identifier for each help message ofapplication programs, along with a storing position where each helpmessage of help data is stored. The message identifier and the storingposition are also related to each other when stored. In searching forhelp message data, the two tables are used to find out where the desiredhelp message data is located in memory. On completion of the search, thedata is displayed on the display unit. The two tables have the samefunctions as those of the above-described help-information searchingtable.

When application programs are incorporated into an informationprocessing system, the storing position of the help data for eachapplication program is stored in the help data management table.

In addition, according to the present, invention, there are providedwindow management blocks for managing the information about each ofmultiple windows displayed on the screen of a multi-window system. Theblocks are connected into a list structure in the order in which apointer of active window pointing to the window management block for theforeground active window is followed successively by subsequent windows.Each window management block has a field accommodating a programidentifier that identifies the application program using thecorresponding window, and another field accommodating a messageidentifier that identifies the help message keyed to the applicationprogram using that window. When a window is opened, this arrangementgenerates a new window management block for the opened window. The newlygenerated block is placed at the beginning of a window management blocklist. At this time, initialization causes the program identifier of theapplication program that opened the window to be set to the programidentifier field of the generated window management block. Meanwhile, apredetermined initial value is set to the help message identifier fieldof the block. The application program that opened the window may requiremodifying a help message that reflects its executing status. In such acase, the application program sets the necessary message identifier tothe help message identifier field of the corresponding window controlblock.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there are providedwindow management blocks for managing the information about each ofmultiple windows displayed on the screen of a multi-window systemadapted for help information control. Each window management block mayinclude a status table pointer that points, in the above-describedstatus management table, to the program identifier and messageidentifier of the application program that uses the correspondingwindow.

In a multi-window system, the help window becomes the foreground activewindow on which to display the help data searched for.

The description above has focused on the method of help-informationcontrol according to the present invention, The system ofhelp-information control in accordance with the present invention willbecome apparent from the description that follows of the preferredembodiments according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the features of a help facility in afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a help program that functions in the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of aninformation processing system such as a word-processor to which thepresent invention is applied;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a typical software configurationaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of a help message searching table inthe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts the structure of a help window to be displayed on adisplay unit by activation of the help facility according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 shows the structure of help data that occurs in the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates the structure of a help data management table in asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict, respectively, a typical application programstructure and a typical help message searching table structure, both foruse in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the process whereby a help data storingposition is stored in the help data management table in the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the process whereby a help message issearched for and displayed in the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining how multiple windows are displayed in athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A and B and FIG. 16 illustrate the construction of a windowmanagement block for a list structure in the third embodiment and thefourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively;

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining how a help program is activated in thethird embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart indicating how the help program is run in thethird embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedreferring to the drawings. These embodiments are particularly suitablefor a word-processor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of aword-processor, which is an embodiment of the present invention. In thefigure, reference numeral 1 is a central processing unit (hereinaftercalled the CPU). The CPU executes document-editing programs and controlsperipheral equipment. Numeral 2 is a main memory (hereinafter called theMM) wherein are stored the document-editing programs and theirassociated data. The programs to be executed by the CPU I includeresident and non-resident programs. The resident programs always stay inthe MM 2. The non-resident programs are usually stored in a hard diskdrive (hereinafter called the HD) 13 and are rolled into the MM 2 orrolled out of it and back to the HD 13 as needed. Numeral 3 is a videorandom access memory (hereinafter called the VRAM). The contents of theVRAM 3 comprise a display part 3a and a non-display part 3b. The displaypart 3a is displayed on a cathode ray tube (hereinafter called the CRT)7. The non-display part 3b provides a temporary save area thataccommodates data to be displayed on the CRT 7.

Instructions for document editing, printing, and activation of the helpfacility, as well as operations for document input are entered through akeyboard (hereinafter called the KB) 4 and a mouse 5. Numeral 6 is acathode ray tube controller (hereinafter called the CRTC). The CRTC 6controls the CRT 7 that provides a screen on which to edit documents.The CRT 7 displays the contents of the display area 3a of the VRAM 3.Numeral 8 is a printer controller (hereinafter called the PRC). The PRC8 controls a wire-dot printer (hereinafter called the WDP) 6 on whichdocuments and the like are output. Numeral 10 is a floppy diskcontroller (hereinafter called the FDC). The FDC 10 controls a floppydisk drive (hereinafter called the FD) 11 whereby document data iswritten to and read from floppy disks. Numeral 12 is a hard diskcontroller (hereinafter called the HDC). The HDC 12 controls a hard diskdrive (hereinafter called the HD) 13 whereby document-editing programs,document data, and help data are written to and read from hard disks.Numeral 14 is a bus over which data is exchanged between the CPU 1 andthe peripherals 2 through 13.

FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of the soft,care for use with theword-processor of this embodiment. In this figure, reference numerals401 through 408 are application programs (hereinafter called APs) forediting documents. Numeral 401 stands for a text editing program, 402for a figure editing program, 403 for a graph editing program; 404 for alist editing program, and 405 for an image editing program. Numeral 406is a layout editing program that integrates into a single document thosedocuments edited by the foregoing APs. Numeral 407 is a print programfor printing documents. Numeral 408 is a help program that implementsthe help facility. Programs 401 through 408 are each controlled as anindependent task by an operating system program (hereinafter called theOS) 409. The OS 409 provides a wide range of controls: from basic taskcontrol to input/output control to multi-window control on the CRTscreen. APs and the OS 409 are loaded by an initial loading program 410for initialization.

FIG. 5 depicts the structure of a help message searching table 501 foruse with the word-processor of this embodiment. The help messagesearching table 501 is used to search for a position 501 on the HD 13 inwhich exists help data containing the help information on the type andstatus of each AP. The type of a specific AP is uniquely identified by aprogram identifier 502, and the status of the same AP by a messageidentifier 503. Every time an AP is loaded into the word-processor, thestoring position of the help data keyed to that AP is automatically setto the help message data searching table 501.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of a help window arrangement that isdisplayed on a screen 601 of the CRT 7 by activation of the helpfacility of this embodiment. Numeral 602 is a help window for displayinghelp information for the benefit of a user. More specifically, displaydata 605 is displayed as help data. Numeral 603 is a set of rectangularareas defined by control elements the help data. More about thisarrangement will be described in reference to FIG. 7. Numeral 604 is amouse cursor to be operated using the mouse 5. Numeral 606 is aclick-box for quitting. The click-box 606 is clicked with the mouse 5 toquit the help facility.

FIG. 7 depicts the help data structure for use in this embodiment. Helpdata 701 comprises a display data part 702 and a control data part 703.The display data part 702 includes text data 704 to be displayed as helpinformation. The control data part 703 comprises coordinates of upperright point 705a, coordinates of lower left point, 705b, a programidentifier 706 and a message identifier 707. These coordinates representthose points on the screen that are used to move the mouse cursor 604into the rectangular areas 603 within the help window and to click themouse 5 where desired, thereby selecting other help data for newdisplay. The program and message identifiers are used to define thetarget help data. When the user references the help data 605 displayedinside the help window 602 and points to a character string within therectangular area 603 defined by the control data 703, a contrivance isimplemented whereby other help data may be referenced across differentAPs.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there will now be explained ways toimplement the help facility for use with the word-processor whose systemconfiguration has been described in the foregoing embodiment. FIG. 1 isa view for explaining how the help facility works in this embodiment.FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing how the help program operates.

Referring to FIG. 1, the process leading up to activation of a helpprogram 110 is explained. An OS 101 that corresponds to the foregoing OS409 places a program identifier 103 of an AP 103 in a status managementtable 104 when APs 102 representing the above-described APs 401- 408 areactivated. Numeral 105 denotes this step. The status management table104 resides in a common memory area 106 of the MM 2. It is alwayspossible for the APs 102 and the OS 101 to write and read data to andfrom the common memory area 106. At a predetermined point in time, eachAP 102 enters a message identifier 107 into the status management table104. For example, at a fixed point in time, a text editting program 102places in the status management table 104 the message identifier 107indicating that the program is executing its character string copyfunction. Numeral 108 denotes this step. When the display screen ischanged, each AP 102 similarly finds out its own status, and generates asuitable message identifier places it in the table 104 as needed. Inthis manner, the program identifier 103 and message identifier 107 ofthe currently running AP are always found in the status management table104.

When a help key is pushed in step 109, the OS 101 interrupts the ongoingAP 102 and activates a help program 110, in step 111. It should be notedthat when the help program 111 is activated, the contents of the statusmanagement table 101 are retained the same as before help programactivation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the execution of the help program 110 is explained.When activated, the help program 110 operas a help window 602, in step112, for displaying the help data explained with reference to FIG. 6.The program identifier ]03 and message identifier 107 of the AP ineffect immediately before help program activation are read from thestatus management table 104, in step 113. By using the help messagesearching table 501 in FIG. 5, a search starts, in step 114, for thestoring position of help data 701 in the HD 13, in FIG. 7, thatcorresponds to the program identifier 103 and message identifier 107read from the status management table 104. The help data 701 is read instep 115, with its associated control data 703 stored in step 116.Display data 702 is displayed within the help window 602 in step 117.While the help data is being displayed, the inside of the help window602 may be pointed to by the mouse cursor 604 in step 118. At this time,the coordinates 705 of the control data 703 stored in step 116 arereferenced in step 119. The indicated position is then judged in step120. If the inside of the rectangular area 603 defined by the controldata 703 is pointed to and selected, the program identifier 706 andmessage identifier 707 corresponding to the rectangular area 603 areacquired in step 121. The help data corresponding to the programidentifier 706 and message identifier 707 is searched for again, in step114, using the help message searching table 501. When found, the helpdata is displayed inside the help window 602 in step 117.

If the click-box for quilting 606 is pointed to and selected using themouse cursor 604, the help program 110 closes the help window 602 instep 122, and asks the 0S 101 to terminate its execution in step 123.The OS 101 ends the help program 110 accordingly, and resumes theexecution of the AP 102 that was interrupted.

As a summary of this embodiment, the status management table 104 isprovided in the common memory area 106 to and from which the APs 102 andthe OP 101 can always write and read data. Upon activation of a specificAP 102, the program identifier 103 indicating the type of AP is placedin the status management table 104. The message identifier 107indicating the executing status off that AP is placed as needed in thestatus management table 104. Pushing the help key activates the helpprogram. The activated help program implements the help facility bydisplaying the help data that corresponds to the program identifier 103and message identifier 107 stored in the status management table 104.This arrangement allows each AP 102 to enter its executing status, atany point time, into the status management table 104. Whenever the helpfacility is requested, help information reflecting detailed status ofthe applicable AP 102 is made available. Because the workings of thehelp facility for each AP 102 are simplified, it is possible to minimizeany increase that may occur in the total size of word-processingsoftware as a result of adding the help facility to the word-processor.The addition of the control data 703 to the help data 701 allows theuser to reference the help data 605 shown inside the help window 602. Byspecifying the interior of the rectangular area 603 defined by thecontrol data 703, the user may reference other help data acrossdifferent APs.

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed referring to the drawings. The storing position of help datain the HD 13 is first searched for using the help message searchingtable 501 after the help window is opened as described with reference tothe first embodiment. What characterizes the second embodiment here isthe use of a help data management table during the search for the helpdata. The help data management table is a table that specifies thestoring position of the help data in the HD 13 for a given AP withreference to the program identifier representing the type of that AP.The table is provided in a predetermined memory position in the HD 13.In the second embodiment, help data means a set of help message data.

FIG. 8 shows how a typical help data management table is structured. Inthis example, the storing positions 803 of help data for the APs 401through 407 in FIG. 4, placed in offset relation Lo the beginning of thetable, correspond to the program identifier 802 indicating the type ofeach AP.

FIG. 9A illustrates a typical AP configuration for the secondembodiment. Each AP 901 comprises a program part 902 and a help datapart 903. One help data section of the part 903 exists for and residesin each AP 901. At the beginning 904 of a given AP 901 are described thestoring positions of divisions of the help data part 903 in the order inwhich these divisions are located in offset relation to the beginning ofthe AP 901. The help data part 903 includes one help message searchingtable 905 and at least one set of help message data 906. Tile helpmessage searching table is located at the beginning of the help datapart 903.

FIG. 9B depicts the structure of the help message searching table 905for the second embodiment. This table is used to search for a storingposition 908 of help message data 906 corresponding to a specificmessage identifier 907. The storing position 908 of help message data isgiven in offset relation to time beginning of the help data part 903 inFIG. 9A. The structure of the help window and that of the help messagedata will not be explained here because these structures are the same asthose of the first embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 may be referred to for thedescription of these structures.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, how the help facility functions in thesecond embodiment is explained. FIG. 10 shows how a help data storingposition is entered into the help data management table. FIG. 11 depictshow a help message is searched for and displayed.

In FIG. 10, an AP 901 is provided as stored on a floppy disk 1006. Usingthe FD 11 in FIG. 3, an initial loading program 1001 that corresponds tonumeral 410 in FIG. 4 reads the AP 901 from the floppy disk 1006 andwrites the program to a program storage area 1007, in step 1002. Theinitial loading program 1001 acquires, in step 1003, a help data storingposition 904 that is described at the beginning of the AP 901 to beloaded. The help data storing position 904 is described in offsetrelation to the beginning of the AP 901. A storing position for the AP901 in the HD 13 is calculated, in step 1004, using the offset value 904and the position in the HD 13 at which the AP 901 is actually stored.The calculated storing position is then entered, in step 1005, into theposition corresponding to the program identifier 802 of the AP 901.

Referring to FIG. 11, how a help message is displayed is explained. Whenthe help key is pushed, the keystroke is reported to the OS arid to anAP 1101 that is currently running. The AP 1101 acknowledges this noticein step 1102, and judges, in step 1103, whether or not the help keyinput was actually carried out. After confirmation of the input, the AP1101 activates the help program 408 FIG. 4. When activated, the helpprogram 408 opens, in step 1104, the help window 602 of FIG. 6 fordisplaying help data. Steps 1104 through 1117 show the progress of helpprogram execution. The help program in the second embodiment differsfrom the help program of FIG. 2 in a third embodiment, to be explainedlater, only in steps 1105 through 1111.

The help data management table 801 is read in step 1105. Through thetable, the storing position 803 for the help data part 903 in the HD 13in acquired, in step 1106, in accordance with the program identifier 802of the AP 1101. The help message searching table 905 is then read fromthe beginning of the help data part 903 in step 1107. Tile storingposition 908 for the help message data 906 is acquired, in step 1108,according to a predetermined message identifier 907 of the AP 1101. Tilestoring position 908 is described in offset relation to the beginning ofthe help data part 903. Thus the storing position for the help messagedata 906 in the HD 13 is calculated, in step 1109, based on the offsetvalue 908 and the storing position 803 for the help data part 903 in theHD 13. Step 1110 for reading the help message data 906 and thesubsequent steps will not be explained here because these steps are thesame as steps 115 through 123 in a third embodiment, to be explainedlater.

As a summary of the second embodiment, every time APs 901 are loadedinto a word-processor or the like, the storing position for the helpdata of each AP 901 in the HD 13 is entered into the help datamanagement table 801. The control data 703 of FIG. 7 is added to thehelp message data 906 to be displayed as help information. When the helpmessage 605 is displayed, the interior of the rectangular area 603defined by the control data part 703 is pointed to and specified. Thisallows other help message data to be referenced across different APs.That is, in the second embodiment of the present invention, every timeintegrated software comprising multiple APs is loaded into aninformation processing system such as a word-processor, the storingposition for the help message of each AP is placed in the help datamanagement table located in a memory area common to all the APs. Thisarrangement makes it possible for the user to reference other helpmessages across different APs.

In the second embodiment, the help data management table is located inthe memory area common to APs. The table need not exist in the commonmemory area if the help program is provided as an independent program,AP 408, as explained in connection with the first embodiment.

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be describedreferring to the drawings. The third embodiment is characterized by theimplementation of a help facility for displaying the help screen alwaysin the foreground active window of a multi-window system. That is, theprogram identifier and message identifier of an AP that uses the helpwindow are set beforehand to window management blocks of a liststructure. These blocks manage the status information about each of thewindows shown on the display window. The help facility for the thirdembodiment is explained using the help information searching table 501in the first embodiment. With that explanation, it will be obvious thatthe help data management table 801 and help message searching table 905in the second embodiment may also be used effectively in the thirdembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is explained a procedure for operating amulti-window system of the third embodiment through the use of amulti-window setup on a screen 1201. This embodiment envisages a windowcontrol system whereby windows correspond to APs on a one-for-one basis.Windows 1202 and 1206 are examples derived from such a system. In thiswindow setup, only the foreground window 1202 is available for editing.Editing and window manipulating operations are carried out using themouse 5 shown in FIG. 3. As the mouse 5 is moved on the desk top, amouse cursor 1203 is moved accordingly on the screen. When the mousecursor 1203 is positioned to a desired item, the mouse 5 is clicked toselect the item. The window displays the data to be edited and the itemsto be selected with the mouse 5. These contents are collectivelyindicated by numeral 1204. When the user points to and selects aclick-box for quitting 1205 using the mouse 5, the AP 1 that has keptthe window open erases it and terminates the editing process. When thewindow 1206 in the background is selected using the mouse 5, theselected window appears as a window 1202 in the foreground. The AP thatuses the window may then proceed with its editing process.

FIGS. 13A and B shows an example of typical window management blocks.These blocks retain the attributes, status and other associatedinformation about each of multiple windows constituting a multi-windowcontrol setup like the one described above. The window management blocks1300 for the windows involved are linked up via link pointers 1302 inthe order in which an active pointer 1301 is followed successively bythe subsequent windows. Each block includes fields for accommodating: aprogram identifier 1303 that identifies the program using thecorresponding window; window type information 1304 that identifies thewindow type; window size position information 1305 that, indicates thedisplay position for the window on the screen; and a message identifier1306 for the help data to be displayed. The value of the active pointer1301 and that of the link pointer 1302 are reset to zero in a case wherethere is no window management block that would be indicated by numeral1300. More about this case will be described later.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is explained how the helpfacility of the third embodiment is to be implemented in theabove-described system configuration. FIG. 14 is a view that illustrateshow an operating system of this embodiment provides help control. FIG.15 is a flowchart that shows how a help program of this embodiment runsin order to display help messages.

In FIG. 14, the process leading up to activation of a help program 1403is explained. A user-initiated operation causes an OS 1401 to activatean AP 1402 in step 1410. After activation, the AP 1402 requests that theOS 1401 open a window in step 1430. In response, the OS 1401 displays anactive window in the foreground of the CRT in step 1411. At the sametime, the OS 1401 generates the window management block 1300, and setsthe value of the active pointer 1301 to the link pointer 1302 of theblock 1300 generated. Thereafter, the value of the active pointer 1301is changed so as to indicate the window management block 1300. The blockis then inserted Lo the beginning of the list, in step 1412.

The program identifier of the AP 1402 that requested the opening of thewindow is set, in step 1413, to the program identifier field 1307 of thewindow management block 1300. The message identifier 1306 is set to zerofor a default in step 1414.

Depending on its executing status, the AP 1402 issues a help messagechange request, in step 1431, to the OS 1401. In response, the OS 1401searches, in step 1415, for the window management block 1300 having thesame program identifier as that of the AP that made the request. Duringthe search, the OS 1401 goes through the list beginning at the activepointer 1301. When the block is found, the OS 401 sets to the messageidentifier 1306 the number specified by the AP 1402, in step 1416.

When a window in the background is selected by the mouse 5, the OS 1401displays that window in the foreground in step 1417. At the same time,the corresponding window management block is linked to the beginning ofthe list in step 1418.

When the AP that has kept the window displayed requests, in step 1432,that the OS 1401 erase the window, the OS 1401 erases that window fromthe CRT 7, in step 1419. Then the OS 1401 deletes the correspondingwindow management block from the list in step 1420. When the help key ispushed, the OS 1401 interrupts the ongoing AP 1402 and activates thehelp program 1403 in step 1421. The help program 1403 displays a helpmessage that corresponds to the active window in the foreground.

Referring to FIG. 15, the flow 1501 of the help program 1403 inexecution is explained in detail. Upon activation, the help program 1403requests, in step 1502, that the OS 1401 allow the program to get helpmessage information for the active window. In response, the OS 1401reads the program identifier 1303 and message identifier 1306 from thewindow management block 1300 indicated by the active pointer 1301. Whenread out, these identifiers are brought to the help program 1403.

The OS 1401 opens the window on which to display a help message, in step1503. After this, the OS 1401 references the help information searchingtable 501 in FIG. 5 in accordance with the program identifier 1303 andmessage identifier 1306 in order to find, in step 1504, the storingposition 504 for the corresponding help message data in the HD 13. Thehelp message data is read from the HD 13 and written to the MM3 in step1505. Finally, the help message is displayed, in step 1506, inside thewindow based on the data having been read out. The OS 1401 then waitsfor the user to make an input operation. If the click-box for quittingis selected on the window using the mouse 5, the help program 1403requests, in step 1507, that the OS 1401 close the window to terminatethe process. In response, the OS 1401 deletes the window, terminates thehelp program 1403, and resumes the execution of the AP 1402.

As a variation of the third embodiment described above, the followingcontrivances may also be provided to determine the help message to bedisplayed.

in FIG. 16, there is provided a status management table 1603 that storesa program identifier 1604 and a message identifier 1605 for each window1202 in FIG. 12. A current pointer 1602 is provided to point to thefield corresponding to the window 1202 shown in the foreground. Windowmanagement blocks 1600 are linked successively via the active pointers1301 and link pointers 1302 in FIGS. 13A and B. These blocks areprovided each with a status management table pointer 1601 pointing tothat field in the status management table 1603 that corresponds to eachwindow 1202. When a window 1202 is displayed, the value of the programidentifier of any AP among 401 through 408 which displayed the window isset to the corresponding program identifier 1604 in the statusmanagement table 1603. The setting of the identifier is performed by wayof the status management table pointer 1601 in the window managementblock 1600 involved.

Each of the APs 401 through 408 sets the message identifier reflectingits execution status to the field of the message identifier pointed toby the current pointer 1602. When the help facility is requested, thehelp program gets the program identifier 1604 and message identifier1605 from that field in the status management table 1603 which ispointed to by the current pointer 1602. The help program then searchesfor and displays the corresponding message data 906. In this variation,the status management table 1603 is provided in the MM 2 in a save areacommon to the APs 401 through 408.

In the embodiments described above, the program and message numbers aretreated as identical to the program and message identifiers stored inthe status management table. In practice, a program identifier may be anaddress on a fixed disk at which the APs 401-408 are stored, an addressof a table that manages these programs, or anything that uniquelyidentifies each AP. Likewise, a message identifier may be an address ona fixed disk at which the corresponding message is stored, or anythingthat uniquely identifies each message.

According to the present invention as described above, integratedsoftware comprising multiple application programs allows these programsto store their executing status in a memory area common to all of them.When activated by operation of the help key, the help program displaysthe help data reflecting the executing status. The help facility thusimplemented allows each application program to store its executingstatus at any point in time. This makes it possible, whenever the helpfacility is requested, to obtain help information that reflects moredetailed status of a desired application program.

The workings of the help facility for each application program aresimplified according to the present invention. This means a simplifiedhelp facility that translates into a minimum increase in the total sizeof the integrated software equipped with such facility. Furthermore,where control data is added to help data and the user carries out theinstructions defined by such control data, other help data may bereferenced across different application programs.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that manyalternatives, modifications and variations will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly,it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling help-information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:storing continuously an executing status corresponding to each of a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means until said executing status is renewed; renewing successively each executing status stored in said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program; referring to said executing statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; and searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said status management table using said obtained executing status to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said one application program on the display means; wherein said status management table stores executing statuses each forming a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of said application program.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:a help-data management table and a help message searching table both formed in the memory means are searched in said searching step, said help-data management table stores a program identifier of each of said application programs and a storing position of help-data corresponding to each application program, said help message searching table stores a message identifier related to said executing status corresponding to each of said application programs and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier of said each application program, said help data includes a help-message searching table and a plurality of help messages data.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:a help-information searching table is searched in said searching step, said help-information searching table includes a program identifier, a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each application program.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:assigning a respective window of multi-windows which are to be displayed on the display means to a respective one of said application programs; simultaneously displaying on the display means the multi-windows for the respective ones of the application programs; selecting one of said sets corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows by current pointing means.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:said help-data includes display data to be displayed on the display means and control data including a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifer corresponding to each of said application programs.
 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:judging whether an input, supplied from the input means after displaying said help-information on the display means, is another help request in accordance with said control data; and searching for another help-data when said input is another help request in accordance with said control data.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:said message identifier and said program identifier corresponding to each application program are stored in a status management table formed in a common area of the memory means commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 9. A method of displaying help-information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to one of a plurality of application programs which are executed in the CPU; storing an executing status of each of said application programs in the memory means until said executing status is renewed; renewing successively each of said executing statuses in response to the execution of a corresponding application program; referring to said executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said memory means using said obtained executing status; drawing help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status as the video data for displaying an active window in the video buffer means; and displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means; wherein said memory means stores executing statuses each forming a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to executing status of said application program.
 10. A system for controlling help-information in an information handling apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, the system comprising:a set of programs to be executed in the CPU including a plurality of application programs and an operating system program; a status management table formed in the memory means, said status management table continuously stores an executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, each executing status having a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to executing status of said application program; means for successively renewing each executing status of said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program; means for referring to said executing statuses of said status management table in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; means for searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses of said status management table using said obtained executing status; and means for supplying help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status to the display means.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein:said status management table is formed in a common memory area of the memory means, said common memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:means for allocating a respective window of multi-windows and a window control block to a respective one of said application programs so as to enable simultaneous display of said multi-windows on the display means; wherein each of said window control blocks has a status management table pointer, said status management table pointer pointing to one of said sets of program and message identifiers corresponding to one of said application programs.
 13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:active pointing means for pointing to a window control block corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows.
 14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:a help-information searching table formed in the memory means, said help-information searching table stores a plurality of sets each having a program identifier, a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.
 15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:a help-data management table formed in the memory means, said help-data management table stores a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a storing position of said help data corresponding to each of said application programs; and a help message searching table formed in the memory means, said help message searching table stores a plurality of sets of each having a message identifier and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifer.
 16. A control apparatus for controlling help facility in an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to an executing status of each of said application programs, said operating system program being informed of said executing status by a corresponding application program; a status management table which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program for continuously storing a current executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, said status management table storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to an application program as an executing status of said application program; and a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to an executing status of an application program interrupted in response to said help request so as to search and deliver help message data corresponding to said executing status of said interrupted application program to the display means.
 17. The control apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:a help information searching table formed in the memory means, said help information searching table stores said program identifier, said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs; wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said help information searching table.
 18. The control apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:a help data area formed on the memory means for storing said help message data corresponding to each of said executing statuses including display data to be displayed on the display means and control data which have display positions of said display data, corresponding to program numbers and corresponding message numbers.
 19. A help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs; first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to execution statuses of each of said application programs; and a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers representing a current execution status of a program for which help was requested so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means.
 20. The help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs; first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to execution statuses of each of said application programs; a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers based on a current execution status of a program being executed so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means; and said one set corresponds to help message data of one of said application programs, which is different from another one of said application programs interrupted in response to said help request.
 21. The help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs; first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to of each of said application programs; a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means; and a second area formed in the memory means is provided for storing said program identifier, said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of aid application program; wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said second area.
 22. A method of controlling help information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:storing a history of execution statuses corresponding to previous execution statuses of a plurality of programs executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means; continuously updating said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs; referring to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator; searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table; and displaying help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses on said display means.
 23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said help-information displayed on said display means is displayed on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on said display means.
 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said active window is a help window.
 25. A method according to claim 23 wherein said active window is an application program window.
 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said application program window is automatically selected when said application program is being executed.
 27. A method of displaying help information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:drawing the video data for display in at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to programs executed in the CPU; storing a history of executing statuses of said programs in the memory means; continuously renewing said history of executing statuses in response to execution of said programs; referring to said history of executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of said programs; searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said memory means using said history of executing statuses; drawing help information corresponding to said history of executing statuses as the video data on an active window in the video buffer means; and displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means.
 28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said active window is a help window.
 29. A method according to claim 27 wherein said active window is an application program window.
 30. A help system, in a computer system, for aiding a user of computer programs, comprising:a help information database for storing help information; monitoring means for monitoring a series of execution statuses of said computer programs; means for generating data indicating said series of execution statuses generated data database for storing said generated data; detecting means for detecting a request for help information from the user; selecting means for selecting appropriate help information from said help information database based on said generated data; and displaying means for displaying said selected help information to the user.
 31. A help system according to claim 30 wherein said help system operates independently of said computer programs.
 32. A help system, in a computer system, for aiding a user of at least one computer program, comprising:a help information database for storing help information; monitoring means for monitoring a series of execution statuses of said at least one computer program; generating means for generating data indicating said series of execution statuses generated data database for storing said generated data; detecting means for detecting a request for help information from the user; selecting means for selecting appropriate help information from said help information database based on said generated data; and display means for displaying said selected help information to the user.
 33. A help system according to claim 32 wherein said help system operates independently of said computer programs.
 34. A help controller for controlling help information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:a status management table, stored in said memory means, for storing a history of executing statuses corresponding to previous execution statuses of a plurality of programs executed in the CPU; means for continuously updating said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs; means for referring to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator; and means for searching help data corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table and displaying help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses on said display means.
 35. A help controller according to claim 34 wherein said help-information displayed on said display means is displayed on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on said display means.
 36. A help system according to claim 35 wherein said active window is a help window.
 37. A help system according to claim 35 wherein said active window is an application program window.
 38. A help system according to claim 37 wherein said application program window is automatically selected when said application program is being executed.
 39. A help system for displaying help information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:means for drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to programs executed in the CPU; said memory means stores a history of execution statuses of said programs; means for continuously renewing said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs; means for referring to said history of execution statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of said programs; means for searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said memory means using said history of executing statuses; and means for drawing help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses as the video data on an active window in the video buffer means and displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means.
 40. A help system according to claim 39 wherein said active window is a help window.
 41. A help system according to claim 39 wherein said active window is an application program window.
 42. A help system according to claim 41 further comprising:means for automatically selecting said active window when said program is being executed.
 43. A method of controlling help-information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:storing continuously an executing status corresponding to each of a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means until said executing status is renewed; renewing successively each executing status stored in said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program; referring to said executing statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; and searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said status management table using said obtained executing status to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said one application program on the display means; wherein said status management table stores executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application program.
 44. The method according to claim 43, wherein:said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 45. The method according to claim 43, wherein:a help-data management table and a help message searching table both formed in the memory means are searched in said searching step, said help-data management stores a storing position of help-data corresponding to each application program, said help message searching table stores a message identifier related to said executing status corresponding to each of said application programs and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier of said each application program, said help-data includes a help-message searching table and a plurality of help messages data.
 46. The method according to claim 43, wherein:a help.-information searching table is searched in said searching step, said help-information searching table includes a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each application program.
 47. The method according to claim 43, further comprising the steps of:assigning a respective window of multi-windows which are to be displayed on the display means to a respective one of said application programs; simultaneously displaying on the display means the multi-windows for the respective ones of the application programs; selecting one of said sets corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows by current pointing means.
 48. The method according to claim 43, wherein:said help-data includes display data to be displayed on the display means and control data each having a message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.
 49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:judging whether an input, supplied from the input means after displaying said help-information on the display means, is another help request in accordance with said control data; and searching for another help-data when said input is another help request in accordance with said control data.
 50. The method according to claim 43, wherein:said message identifier corresponding to each application program is stored in a status management table formed in a common area of the memory means commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 51. A method of displaying help-information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to one of a plurality of application programs which are executed in the CPU; storing an executing status of each of said application programs in the memory means until said executing status is renewed; renewing successively each of said executing statuses in response to the execution of a corresponding application program; referring to said executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said memory means using said obtained executing status; drawing help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status as the video data for displaying an active window in the video buffer means; and displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means; wherein said memory means stores executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one said application program.
 52. A system for controlling help-information in an information handling apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, the system comprising:a set of programs to be executed in the CPU including a plurality of application programs and an operating system program; a status management table formed in the memory means, said status management table continuously stores an executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, each executing status includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application programs; means for successively renewing each executing status of said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program; means for referring to said executing statuses of said status management table in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; means for searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses of said status management table using said obtained executing status; and means for supplying help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status to the display means.
 53. The method according to claim 52, wherein:said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.
 54. The system according to claim 53, further comprising:means for allocating a respective window of multi-windows and a window control block to a respective one of said application programs so as to enable simultaneous display of said multi-windows on the display means; wherein each of said window control blocks has a status management table pointer, said status management table pointer pointing to one of said sets of program and message identifiers corresponding to one of said application programs.
 55. The system according to claim 54, further comprising:active pointing means for pointing to a window control block corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows.
 56. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:a help-information searching table formed in the memory means, said help-information searching table stores a plurality of sets each having a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.
 57. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:a help-data management table formed in the memory means, said help-data management table stores a storing position of said help-data corresponding to each of said application programs; and a help message searching table formed in the memory means, said help message searching table stores a plurality of sets of each having a message identifier and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier.
 58. A control apparatus for controlling help facility in an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to an executing status of each of said application programs, said operating system program being informed of said executing status by a corresponding application program; a status management table which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program for continuously storing a current executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, said status management table storing a plurality of message identifiers corresponding to said application program as executing statuses of said application programs; and a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to an executing status of an application program interrupted in response to said help request so as to search and deliver help message data corresponding to said executing status of said interrupted application program to the display means.
 59. The control apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising:a help information searching table formed in the memory means, said help information searching table stores said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs; wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said help information searching table.
 60. The control apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising:a help data area formed on the memory means for storing said help message data corresponding to each of said executing statuses including display data to be displayed on the display means and control data which have display positions of said display data, corresponding to program numbers and corresponding message numbers.
 61. A help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means; an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs; first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of message identifiers each corresponding to one of said application programs; and a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said message identifiers based on a current execution status of a program being executed so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means.
 62. The help-information display system according to claim 61, wherein:said one message identifier corresponds to help message data of one of said application programs, which is different from another one of said application programs interrupted in response to said help request.
 63. The help-information display system according to claim 61, wherein:a second area formed in the memory means is provided for storing said message identifiers, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs; wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said second area. 